LaDonna Michell Taylor

November 18, 1965 – August 5, 2025

LaDonna Michell Way Taylor, 59, of Seminole, Texas passed away on August 5, 2025. LaDonna was born in Odessa, Texas on November 18, 1965 to Diane Flint Ellison and Mitchell Way. She graduated from Monahans High School and continued on to pursue a degree in journalism. She lived in both Maryland and Germany for a number of years in her early twenties, before moving back to Texas.

LaDonna met the love of her life, Patrick Taylor, in 1992, and they were married on March 8, 1994, in Carrizozo, New Mexico. They were married for 31 years and together raised four children.

Our mom was a caregiver at her core- whether it was at home with her children and family, caring for others’ loved ones through her work with Hospice, or strangers on the street- she always had a gentle touch and a kind word to give to anyone in need. We spent our lives being witness to her quiet generosity. She was intentional and thoughtful with her gestures and words, and she never sought recognition.

She loved crosswords, trivia (nobody could beat her), reading, writing, true crime, and music. You could play her almost any song and she could tell you exactly who sang it. She loved dancing, especially with our dad. She was fiercely competitive (but never a sore loser), funny, goofy, and incredibly intelligent. She loved coffee and conversation. She wasn’t a fan of small talk- she loved to pick your soul, and she always made you feel heard and important.

One of our mom’s love languages was cooking- nobody on earth could make a homecooked meal as good as her. Thanksgiving’s at the farm meant country music at midnight, staying up all night drinking coffee while we made her famous dressing and our dad’s pecan pie. She always made ordinary days and mundane activities feel special and cozy. We didn't know it then, but our favorite memories would end up being the smallest moments, wrapped up in her warmth and knowing words.

Nothing brought her more joy and fulfillment in her life than being a Nonna to her grandbabies and she spent every moment shared with them filling their spirits up with encouragement, hope, wisdom and love- just as she did for her children. We know these gifts will last a lifetime for us all. She was and always will be remembered as a woman of intellect- godly, loyal, nurturing, honest, uplifting, beautiful, generous, infectious and remarkably kind. She was our best friend and no amount of time will be enough to ease the heartbreak of losing her, just as no amount of time would have been enough with her. She is engraved in our souls and the essence of who we are.

She is survived by her husband, Patrick Taylor; their children, James Boyd and his wife Sarah, Brittany Boyd Brito and her husband Sammy, Jacob Taylor and his wife Emily, Caroline Taylor Martinez and her husband DeShawn. Her twelve grandchildren, Sebastian Brito, Alexa Brito, Addisyn Richards, Jace Taylor, Kaynan Tebbe, Presley Brito, Sutton Taylor, Jameson Boyd, Weston Taylor, Leland Boyd, Everett Martinez, and a grandchild she dreamed of holding, expected in October. Her mother, Diane Flint Ellison; her brother, Andrew Way and his wife Grace and their children, Morgan Watts and Zac Way; her sister, Paula Ellison Gill.

She was preceded in death by her daddy, Mitchell Way; her stepdad, Paul Ellison; her sister, Patricia (Trish) Pasco Ellison; and her nephew, Nathan Way.